The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
As the pressure grows and these feelings flow
Trample on bodies, bodies in holes of faith
Times I've asked the lord for forgiveness
While kept under a spell of a sweating locust's breath.
No need to tell me 'cause its written on your face
Sliding down now with the black lights shining
I don't care where you go you won't get away from me
Black as the night is day filled with no sympathy
Marching down the hall for a misery
I don't care where you go you won't get away from me
Mouth tastes of sick stomach twisting inside
Everything's wrong and I can't get away
The gravity of fear you can feel it coming near
It's coming straight for you it'll twist and drag you down
I don't care where you go you won't get away from me
Trample on bodies, bodies in holes of faith
Times I've asked the lord for forgiveness
While kept under a spell of a sweating locust's breath.
No need to tell me 'cause its written on your face
Sliding down now with the black lights shining
I don't care where you go you won't get away from me
Black as the night is day filled with no sympathy
Marching down the hall for a misery
I don't care where you go you won't get away from me
Mouth tastes of sick stomach twisting inside
Everything's wrong and I can't get away
The gravity of fear you can feel it coming near
It's coming straight for you it'll twist and drag you down
I don't care where you go you won't get away from me
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I Have a feeling its about how he cannot chase away his feelings and his past. At least, if you were to interpret that from the music video
i really like this song, can't figure out the meaning yet, but i think it may be something dark of or a girl he likes
i think this song is about a guy walking through a graveyard contemplating how he fucked things up with his lover. but he is absolutely determined to get her back. "I dont care where you go you wont get away from me"
I really loved this song and the video. The final scene was really something special to watch, and the song itself has a deeper meaning, at east for me it does, since I can say I've been "down there". Life goes wrong, you try to escape it, and when the day ends, it somehow looks perfect, through your eyes only. Hope gets us through life and its pressure, I think that's the overall message of the song.
spidjod had it right 4 years ago.
His childhood has come back to haunt him, but only because of what and who he has become since then.
Is the begin of the story of the album. The pressure.. the insanity, has began to grow in the main character and he begins to realize that he is not going to be able to escape
no,people,he
s just drunk or on drugs...and he has all sorts of flashes..and hes talking to himself